A stunning new movie starring Scarlett Johansson explores the possibility of merging technology with the human body. (NAPS)

(NAPSI)—Imagine this: your body enhanced with technology through
implants—even an entirely artificial body implanted with your brain.
You could be hardwired into the Internet, able to access information
instantly. We already have implants to improve hearing or keep a heart
pumping, but what if you could enhance all of your physiological processes
and senses? Would the risk of having your mind hacked be worth the benefits?

These are the kinds of fascinating questions posed by the visually
stunning and action-packed film “Ghost in the Shell.” And
although the film is science fiction, the realities of what it depicts may be
closer than you think.

Your Brain on the Internet

Researchers at Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) served as advisers on “Ghost
in the Shell” to help ensure that the futuristic technology had a
real-world basis. The film follows Major (played by Scarlett
Johansson), a woman who was rescued from death by having her brain implanted
into an artificial body. The HPE experts provided insight into how a
hardwired brain like Major’s could be protected from hacking. They
further validated the idea of merging technology with the body and storing
information using biological elements.

The Future Is Now

Other scientists have already come up with what’s known as a
brain-computer interface (BCI), a way to wire a brain to an external device
to give you direct control of a machine, such as a prosthetic arm, using only
your thoughts. The idea is to help those afflicted by paralysis, neurological
disorders and degenerative brain conditions, but it could also mean better
sensory capabilities, enhanced motor coordination, and the ability to tap into
external information or communicate directly with other people who are
similarly connected.

In the movie, many of the characters have machine “enhancements,”
giving them superhuman capabilities. For instance, some have diagnostic tools
that scan the body and brain for problems and anomalies, artificial eyes that
allow for multiple filters of vision, and links that let them communicate
telepathically.

We may be a ways off from this complete integration of biology and
technology, but one thing is clear: The future as depicted in “Ghost in
the Shell” may be more fact than fiction.

See It Now

Fortunately, you don’t have to wait to see the future. “Ghost
in the Shell” is available on Blu-ray, DVD
and Digital HD now.